Machine for soldering side seams of can-bodies



(N0 Model.) 13 SheetsSheet 1.

R. STEEGMULLER.

' MACHINE FOR SOLDERING SIDE SEAMS 0? CAN BODIES.

No. 591,896. I Patented Oct. 19,1897.

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R. STEEGMULLER. MACHINE FOR SOLDERING SIDE SEAMS 0F CAN BODIES. No. 591,896.

Patented Oct. 19,1897.

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R. STEEGMULLER. MACHINE FOR SOLDERING SIDE SEAMS 0F CAN BODIES.

No. 591,896. Patented Oct. 19,1897.

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(No Model.) 1 13 Sheets-Sheet 9. R. STEEGMULLEB.

MACHINE FOR vSOLDERING SIDE SEAMS 0F CAN BODIES.

No. 591,896. Patented Oct. 19 1897.-

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(No Model.) 13 Sheets-Sheet 11.

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R. STEEGMULLER. V MACHINE FOR SOLDERING SIDE SEAMS, 0? CAN BODIES.

13 Sheets-Sheet 12.

Patented Oct. 19,1897.

INVENTOF (N0 Mqdel.) 13 Sheets-Sheet. 13.

R. STEEGMULL'ER. v MACHINE FOR SOLDERING SIDE- SEAMS 0F CAN BODIES.

No. 591,896. Patented Oct. 19, 1897.

INVENTOH )zW/TNESSES:

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RlOHARD-STEEGMULLEB, on NEW YORK, N. Y., AssioNoR o THE AUTO- MATIG oAnMA'oHINERY COMPANY, on WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE oe QLD ERlNG SIDE SEAMS OF CAN-BODIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591 ,8 96, dated October 19, 1897.

Application filed June 20, 1894. Renewed February 19, 1897. serial No.624,198. (N0 11105813 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD STEEGMI'J'L- LER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 'in- Machines for Soldering the Side Seams of Can-Bodies, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to machines for making sheet-metal cans, and more especially to an improved machine for soldering the side seams-of sheet-metal cans or boxes after the can-bodies are made on a can-body forming and seaming machine.

My improved machine is intended to be operated'in connection with the can-seaming machine for which Letters Patent were granted to me heretofore, No. 440,411, dated November 11, 1890, and in which the can-bodyforming horn is arranged in a vertical posi tion, so that the seamed can-bodies are delivered by gravity from the former-horn to suitable carrying devices, by which they are conducted to the side-seam-soldering devices. For the purpose of conveying the bodies from the vertical former-horn of the seaming-machine to my improved solderingmachine a curved horn extension is used, on which the can-body is dropped from the former-horn by gravity, it being then moved over said horn extension and turned on its axis, so that the side seam of the body is placed at the lower part of the extension and then conducted over acid-supplying wipers and through a soldering-trough to suitable wiping, moisten ing, cleaning, and. drying devices.

. As my can-seaming machine referred to is a double machine, having a vertical formerhorn at each .end, it is my intention to make my sideseam-soldering machine also as a double machine, one for each can-seaming machine, so as to'dispose directly of all the can-bodies formed by the double can-seaming machine and produce thereby a double output of cans as compared to the output when only a single canse'aming and side-seam-soldering machine are employed.

The invention consists of a machine for soldering side seams of can-bodies, which comprises a curved extension-horn located vertically below the former-horn of the canseaming machine, means for moving and turning the can-body on its axis, so as to make the side seam of the same the lower part of the can, carrying devices for moving 5 5 the can-body through the soldering-machine, means for supplying the acid by suitable absorbent wicks to the inner and outer surfaces of the seam, said acid being supplied from the hollow extension-hormwhich serves as an acid-reservoir, a soldering; trough provided with a longitudinal opening and arranged in connection with a soldering-bath, the solder being melted in the tank and supplied in regular quantities by a suitable dipping device to the trough, inner and outer wipers by which the surplus solder is removed from the side seams of the bodies, a stationary wiper for supplying water to the inner surface of the seam of the can for cleaning and cooling the seam, and a rotary drying-brush for removing the cleaning and cooling water supplied to the interior of the can.

The invention consists, further, of certain details in the construction of the diiferent operating parts of my improved side-seamsoldering machine, as will be fully set forth hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved machine for soldering the side seams of canbodies. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the lefthand half of the machine, drawn on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the righthand half of the machine, also on a larger scale. Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical longitudinal sections, respectively, of the left and right hand' halves, of the machine shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Figs. 6 and 7 are plan views, likewise at the right and left hand ends of the machine, some parts in both figures being broken away and others being in section. Figs. 8, 8, 8", 8, 8, and S are details of the extension-horn, showing its connection with the former horn 5 of the seaming-machine, Fig. 8 being a top view of the horn extension, Figs. 8 and 8 being horizontal sections, respectively, on lines 8 8 and 8 8, Figs. 8 and 8. Figs. 9 and 9 are respectively a plan view of the os- :00 cillating arms by which the can-body, after being dropped from the former-horn,is moved over the horn extension and a detail section through one of the push-pins of the oscillating arms. Fig. 10 is a vertical transverse section on line 10 10, Fig. 1, drawn on a larger scale. Figs. 10 and 10 are details of the guide device by which the side seam of the can-body is placed in proper alineinent with the acid-supplying wipers and the solderingtrough. Figs. 11,11, 11, 11, and 11 are details of the means for supplying acid to the inner and outer surfaces of the side'seam of the cans. Fig. 12 is a plan View of a portion of the soldering-tank and soldering-trough. Fig. 13 is an end elevation of the soldering tank and trough, the end wall of the tank being removed to show the interior construction of the tank. Fig. 14 is a vertical transverse section on line let 14, Fig. 1, through the soldering-tank, also on a larger scale. Fig. 15 is a vertical transverse section on line 15 15, Fig. l, drawn on a larger scale. Fig. 16 is a vertical longitudinal section, on a still larger scale, showing the mechanism by which a reg ular supply of melted solder is kept up to the soldering-tank and an alarm device for the same. Figs. 16, 16 16, 16, and 16 are details of the solder-supplying mechanism and its alarm device, Figs. 16 and 16 being horizontal sections, respectively, on lines 16 16 and 16 16 Fig. 16. Figs. 17 and 17 are details of the inner wiper for removing the surplus solder from the inner surface of the side seam. Figs. 18, 18, and 18 are details, respectively, of the brush for supplying cleaning-water to the can-body and of the brush for drying the same. Figs. 19, 19 19 and 19 are details of the motion-transmitting mechanism for the drying-brush, Fig. 19 being a longitudinaltransverse section on line 19 19, Fig. 19, and Figs. 19 and 19 being vertical transverse sections on lines 19 19 and 19 19, Figs. 19 and 19, respectively.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the supporting-frame of my improved machine for soldering the side seams of can-bodies. On the supporting-frame A is arranged the soldering-tank B, which is heated in any suitable manner.

To the end walls of the solder-bath B are applied horizontal brackets or pedestals a, on

which are supported yoke-shaped standards A, which serve to support the upper and lower horizontal tubes T T, through which the endless can-body carrier-chain is passed, said chain being composed of a number of links, some of which are provided with pushers by which the can-bodies are moved forward, the links being guided over suitable. sprocketwheels T near the opposite ends of the guidetubes T T. A horn extension H is arranged adjacent to the sprocket-wheel T at the ingoing end of the machine, and made of curved shape, its upper end being located below the can-body former-horn H of the can-seaming machine, so that the can-bodies are dropped without any special forwarding mechanism directly by gravity on the horn extension H. The horn extension H is made hollow and serves as an acid-receptacle.

To the lower end of the horn extension H is attached an acid-tube h, while in the horn, horn extension, and in the acid-tube h is arranged a water-supply tube h, by which the water is conducted into the water-tube 71 Adjacent to the lower end of the horn extension H is arranged on the acid-tube h a guide D, by which the side seams of the can-bodies are directed, and adjacent to it an acid-tank E with its acid-delivery wicks, said tank communicating with the acid-tube h. The canbodies are conveyed by the pushers of the carrier-chain over suitable guide-rails (Z (Z, directly from the guideD and acid-wicks to the soldering-trough B of the tank 13, and from the same to the inner and outer wipers F F, for removing the surplus solder, so as to furnish a neat and uniform seam, said outer wiper being arranged on the right-hand pillar A of the supporting-frame A. WVater is supplied to a wiper G, for cleaning and cooling the seam, which is then subjected to the motion of a rotary drying-brush G for drying the can, the surplus water being collected in a drip-tank G at the right-hand end of the machine.

The operative parts of the machine having thus been briefly referred to, they will now he described in detail, each under a special appropriate heading.

The Horn Extension.

The horn extension H is clearly shown in Figs. 4:, 8, and 8 It is formed of a hollow curved casting of suitable metal, which is closed at the upper and lower ends and connected by suitable screws 7%, which are located in recesses at the opposite sides of the upper end of the horn extension with the lower end of the former-horn H of the canseaming machine. The horn extension H receives its supply of acid by an acid-supply tube h which passes through the body of the horn H, while the water-supply tube h passes also through the body of the horn H, the horn extension H, and the acid-tube h to the water-tube 71 which extends longitudinally midway between the guide-rails (Z (Z. The water-tube 7L2 abuts against the end of the acid-tube h, and is tightly connected at the closed end of the acid-tube with the water-supply tube It, as shown in Fig. 4. The water-tube 71 gradually diminishes in diameter from one end to the other.

The lower end of the horn extension H is connected by means of screws to the flanged end or collar of the acid-tube 71, so that the end of the acid-tube is firmly supported thereby. The horn extension H is'provided at one side of its upper part with an inclined .recess 71 which communicates with the re cess for the side scam in the horn H, said recess h being of rhombic shape and serving to produce the turning of the can-body on its axis, while it is dropped from the horn onto the horn extension, so that the side seam is conducted into a central groove 7?, that extends centrally along the middle and lower parts of the horn extension, as shown in Figs. 8 and 8. The inclined recess 77, servesto impart to the can-body a quarter-turn, so that the side seam is at the lower part of the horn extension when the can-body passes from the horn extension onto the horizontal guiderrails d d. The size of the horn extension 1-1 is gradually diminished from the upper toward the lower end, so that the canbodies readily pass over the curved extension without binding thereon. The horn extension H is further provided at opposite sides with arc-sha ed recesses it into which roject the ends of lateral push-pins h that are supported in sockets h of oscillating arms H of a can-body-delivering mechanism, which arms are fulcrumed to suitable supports on the sprocket-wheel-supporting brackets T attached to an upright stay T located between the ends of the guide-tubes T T of the carrier-chain, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and in detail in Fig. 9. The push-pins h are provided with slightly-beveled ends, and with shanks of smaller diameter, which are guided in the sockets h at the outer ends of the oscillating arms H and cushioned by helical cushioning-springs h", which are placed on the shanks of the push-pins between the heads of the push-pins and the closed ends of the sockets 7L8,'&S shownin Fig. 9 A key It is passed through the outer end of the shank of each push-pin said key preventing the detaching of the push-pin h from the socket 72 of the oscillating arm H and limiting the extent of forward motion of the pin under the influence of its cushioning-spring.

The oscillating arms H of the can-body-delivering device are provided with crank-arms h, to which connecting-rods are pivoted that are operated by suitable mechanism, so that oscillating motion is imparted to the arms H and push-pins h whereby with each downward stroke of said arms a can-body is fed in a downward direction and over the lower end of the horn extension onto the guide-rails d 01, so as to be in the path of the pushers of the carrier-chain. During the downward motion of the oscillating arm H the next can-body which has been dropped from the seamingmachine follows by gravity the motion of the arms until it arrives at the middle portion of the horn extension. As soon as the return motion of the oscillating arms commences the push-pins 7L pass over the sides of the cans, theybeing pressed sufiiciently into the guidesockets against the tension of their cushioning-springs, so that the can-body engages by its upper edge one of several notches 77, at the inner curved portion of the horn extension,'as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, and is thereby prevented from being moved toward the upper part of the horn extension during the upward motion of the oscillating arms. By the next downward motion of the oscillating arms this can-body is moved over the lower end of the horn extension onto the guide-rails d d, and over the same by the pushers of the carrier-chain through the entire machine to the opposite side of the same. a

The guide-rails d d are supported in suitable position on the soldering-tank B of the machine and serve to guide the cans along the acid-tube hand water-tube 71, over the different parts of the machine. The outermost end of the water-tube 72 is supported by two longitudinal wire rods 7' 0, that are attachedat the inner ends to the horn extension, and at their outer ends to a tube-carrying sleeve f said rods serving to keep the water tube firmly in position. The oscillating arms H deliver one can-body after the other, as soon as the same has cleared the lower end of the horn extension, to the fixed guide device D, Y

which is shown in details in Figs. 10 and 10 and which is provided at its lower part with converging flanges 61, said guide device being made in the nature of a sleeve that fits tightly around the acid-tube h, and is retained thereon by a transverse screw-bolt (1 which passes through bosses on the outside of the converging flanges. The converging flanges d serve to produce the accurate centering of the side seam of the can-body, so that the same is brought into line with the acid-delivery wicks and the trough of the solderingbath. As the-can arrives in position over the guide D it is taken up by one of the pushers of the carrier-chain and moved through the entire soldering-machine until it is delivered over the downwardly-inclined ends of the guide-rails d d at the outgoing end of the machine to a can-body-heading machine, by which the top and bottom are placed on the can-body.

The CctwBody Carrier-Chain.

The mechanism for moving the can-bodies in a longitudinal direction through the ma chine, so that the body can be successively supplied with the required quantity of acid and solder and conducted beyond the wipers for the surplus solder and the water-supplying and drying brushes, is composed of an endless carrier-chain O, which is formed of a number of pivoted links, which are stretched over the sprocket-wheels T T, one at each end of the machine, one of the sprocket-wheels T being supported in bearings of the station ary brackets T the other in bearings of adjustable brackets T attached to the outermost supporting-stays T of the guide-tubes T T. The guide-tubes T T are supported in stays T at the upper ends of the yokeshaped pillars A, as shown clearly in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The driving sprocket-wheel T is arranged at the outgoing end of the machine, and is supported in the adjustable brackets T so as to provide means for keeping the carrier-chain perfectly taut. For this purpose an adjusting-screw O is arranged, that engages the supporting-brackets T of the driving sprocket-wheel T said brackets being guided along the stay T while the inner end of the adjusting-screw O engages the transverse connecting-piece of the brackets T The turning of the screw 0 in one or the other direction produces the forward or backward adjustment of the brackets T and thereby the tightening or loosening of the carrier-chain C. Y

The carrier-chain is made of a number of links, which are engaged by the teeth of the sprocket-wheels T The chain 0 is provided at equal distances from each other with pushers C the shape of which is clearly shown in detail in Figs. 10, 14, 15, and 19*. These pushers are preferably attached at such distances from each other on the links of the chain that one can-body after the other is taken up by the pushers and fed longitudinally through the machine. The parallel guide-tubes serve for supporting the upper and lower lengths of the endless carrier-chain, the lower guide-tube being provided with a longitudinal center slot in which the shanks of the pushers are guided. The supportingstays T of the guide-tubes T T are clamped to the yoke-shaped pillars A of the machine by means of transverse screw-bolts C one of the stays T being provided with a horizontal slot 0 so as to provide for the contraction or expansion of the guide-tubes under the varying temperatures to which the machine is subjected, without straining the supporting-tubes and chain. The slot O is shown in Fig. 5, the transverse screw-bolt 0 being tightly clamped to the supporting-pillar A by means of a screw-nut 0 provided with a handle C", by which the connection of the stay T and the pillar A is produced.

The Acid-Delivery W t'chs cmcl Acid-Tank.

The acid-wicks and the acid-tank are clearly shown in detail in Figs. 11 to 11 and consist of a sleeve e, that is clamped to the acidtube h, and provided at its lower part with downwardly extending parallel flanges e. The flanges e are connected by transverse screws 6?, so that a wick e of suitable absorbent material is firmly held between the parallel flanges e. The acid-tube h is provided above the wick c with small perforations, through which the acid is delivered in small drops onto the wick 6 The inner faces of the flanges e are provided with grooves or channels 6 so that any surplus acid that cannot be absorbed by the wick is dropped on a wick 6 below the wick c and isconducted by the latter into the acid-tank E, which is located below thedelivery-wick and made longer than the same, so as to prevent the spilling and loss of acid.

To the bottom of the acid-tank E is attached by screws (2 an L-shaped guide-plate e, which is provided in its vertical part with an opening for the wick 6 as shown clearly in Figs.

11 and 11. Alongside of the upper end of the L-shaped guide-plate e? are arranged two parallel jaws a having abutting end cheeks e connected by screws e said jaws being provided with vertical grooves at their inner faces and connected by pivot-links 6 with the lower portion or base of the guide-plate e one of said pivot-links being connected by a helical spring 6 with the said base, so that the front ends of the jaws e are pressed against a stop-screw 6 that passes through the front wall of the acid-tank E.

Between the grooved jaws e is supported the lower wick 6 the lower end of which is extended through theopening in the L-shaped guide-plates into the acid-tank, as shown in Fig. 11, so that the wick takes up acid by capillary attraction when the tank is filled, and supplies it to the outer surface of the side seam of the can-body, while the upper or delivery wick e supplies the acid to the inner surface of the side seam as the can-body is passed by the carrier-chain through between the wicks. lVhen the seam of the can-body arrives in line with the wicks e 6 it pushes the lower jaws a against the tension of the spring 6 on the pivot-links 6 back until a sufficient space is provided for the entering side seam of the can-body, so that it can be moved forward between the wicks, which are pressed on the inner and outer surfaces of the side seam, and supplya suflicient quantity of acid thereto as is necessary for the proper soldering of the seam. Any surplus acid that is delivered by the delivery-wick e is collected in the acid-tank, which is provided with an overflow-pipe e at its upper part, through which the surplus acid is conducted off when it arrives 011 a level with the lower edge of the overflow-pipe e. The overflow acid is collected in a suitable vessel and returned to the acid-supply vessel in the horn extension, so as to beconducted from the same back to the acid-delivery wick and acid-tank. The acid-tank E is supported by the yoke-shaped pillar A, it being retained by ribs 6 at one end of the same, between ribs 6 on the tapering inner faces of the pillar A, as shown in Figs. 2 and 10.

The Soldering-Tank and the Solder-Supph ing Mechanism.

The can-body is conducted over longitudinal steadying-flangesff, which are attached by a tubular upper portion f and transverse clamping-bolts f to the water-tube h At the upper part of the soldering-tank B is arranged a longitudinal soldering-trough B, which is provided with a central slot h, which is connected at certain intervals by transverse stays b, that extend below the slot. The upper edges of the soldering-trough B are made slightly tapering toward the slot, as shown in Fig. 13, so that the side seam of the can-body can freely passthrough the trough thus obtained and is thereby covered both at the inside and outside of the seam with liquid solder. The shape of the tank is shown in Figs. 13 and 14:, the top of the tank being made of semicylindrical shape, while the bottom is made corrugated, so as to fur nish a larger surface to the flames of the products of combustion by which the soldering-tank is heated.

The top and bottom of the soldering-tank B are attached by screw-bolts to an open bedplateB which is supported on the support ing-stand A. The corrugations of the bottom are connected at suitable intervals by means of transverse arc-shaped connecting-pieces 79 which act as stays for the corrugations. The end walls B of the solder-tank are attached, by means of screw-bolts, to the sockets of the top and to lugs 19 of the bottom of the soldertank, as shown in Figs. 10 and 13. On the soldering'tank B is arranged a solder-supplying mechanism, which is shown in detail in Figs. 16* to 16?, said solder-supplying mechanism consisting of an oblong receptacle B, which extends through the top wall of the soldering-tank at one side of the solderingtrough, as shown in Figs. 1 and 13, and which is provided with two cylinders B B one being provided with a detachable lid, while the other is provided with a vertically-reciprocating dipper B which lifts at each upstroke a small quantity of liquid solder from the lower part of the receptacle B to the upper part of the cylinder 13. The receptacle B is closed at the top, its side and end walls, aswell as the outer surface of the soldering-tank, being covered by a layer of suitable non-conducting material, so that the radiation of heat is prevented and the solder in the same retained in liquid state. The lower end of the cylinder B opens into the tank B, and the lower end of the cylinder B into the receptacle B Vertically-reciprocating motion is imparted to the dipper B in the cylinder 13 by means of a rotating crank-shaft E the crank of which is connected, by an intermediate connecting-rod 6 with the dipper-rod 13, said crank shaft receiving rotary motion by a bevelgear from the shaft of the driving sprocket-Wheel T said transmitting mechanism being clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The crank-shaft B makes two rotations for every rotation of the driving-shaft of the sprocketwheel T to which driving-shaft rotary motion is imparted by a suitable belt-and-pulley transmission. (Shown in Fig. 5.) For each rotation of the shaft of the driving sprocketwheel, two cans are fed forward by the carrier-chain, and two rotations of the crankshaft and two strokes of the dipper are produced, so that as the liquid solder is supplied to the cansa corresponding quantity of solder is supplied to the tank and trough.

For supplying the proper quantity of solder to the side seam of the can-body, it is necessary that the soldering-trough should be always supplied with liquid solder, so that each can as it passes through the entire length of the soldering-trough is coated at the inner and outer surfaces with solder. The level of the liquid in the soldering-trough is regulated by the level of the liquid in the cylinder 13 said cylinder being provided at its outer wall with an opening 11 through which any surplus solder passes to the outside and is returned through an opening 13 inthe top of the receptacle B into the latter, as shown in Fig. 14.

The level of the liquid in the cylinder B and therefore in the soldering-trough, is kept up by the cylinder B and the dipper B which latter, on arriving at the upper end of the cylinder B discharges a small quantity of liquid solder that is carried up in the pocket of the dipper-B into an inclined connectinggutter B", which extends from the dischargeopening 5 in the upper end of the cylinder B into the upper part of the cylinder B as shown in Fig. 16. The dipper B is guided in the cylinder 13 by three radial arms having segmental guide-wings, as shown in Figs.

16 and 16., the segmental wing arranged in line with the gutter B being provided in its circumference with a pocket 17 that is formed by a recess in the upper part of the wing, and by a rib r at the lower part of the wing, which rib extends into a vertical groove bf in the cylinder 13 as shown clearly in Fig. 16. At each downstroke of the dipper B the same is submerged into the liquid solder in the cylinder 13, so that by the upward stroke of the same a small quantity of solder is carried along in the pocket of the dipper. As the pocket in the dipper arrives on a level with the discharge-opening b at the upper part of the cylinder B the liquid solder is discharged into the gutter l3 and from the same into the cylinder B the quantity supplied by each upward stroke of the dipper being suflicient for replacing the quantity of solder supplied to each can-body, so that as two cans are moved forward for each rotation of the shaft of the driving sprocket-wheel of the carrier-chain, and as two strokes of the dipper are produced the quantity of solder taken up by the cans is continually supplied again by the dipper, and thereby the required level of the solder in the tank and trough sustained. As the supply-cylinder B and the level-regulating cylinder B are open to the atmosphere, the restoring of the level of the solder in the soldering-trough is kept up in a reliable manner by gravity without producing any spilling of solder over the edges of the soldering-trough. Any surplus solder is returned through the overflow-opening b in the cylinder B and opening b into the tank B as before described. The receptacle B is filled from time to time with solid bars of solder, which, as they are gradually melted by the heat supplied to the bottom of the tank and receptacle, are changed into a liquid state and are gradually supplied by the dipper to the tank in the manner described.

As the stroke of the dipper B remains uni form, it is obvious that by adjusting the dipper B in a higher or lower position on the dipper-rod B more or less solder is supplied to the tank, the dipper when in its higher position transmitting more solder at each upstroke from the pocket 79 to the gutter B than when in its lower position on the dipper-rod 13.

In connection with the solder-receptacle B is arranged an alarm device, by which warning is given whenever the level of the liquid I in the soldering-receptacle commences to fall to such an extent that the seams of the canbodies would not be properly supplied with solder. This alarm device is shown in Figs. 16, 16, 16 and 16 and consists of a float B the stem 19 of which is guided in a sleeve 1), that is arranged at the upper end of a hemispherical shell 12 which is attached to the top of the solder-receptacle B, as shown.

in Fig. 16. To the upper end of the stem of the float B is attached a bell B and below i the bell attached to the stem a collar Z9 which engages the upper arm of a bell-crank leverlfiflthat is f ulcrumed to a supporting-post b on the top of the cylinder 13. The lower arm of the bell-crank lever Z9 is made in the form of a socket and provided with a beveled and spring-cushioned pin I), that is retained in the socket by a set-screw Z7 engaging a circumferential groove in the shank of the pin, as shown in Fig. 16. The lower socketshaped arm of the bell-crank lever b abuts against a fixed pin b? on the supporting-post I), while the upper arm is connected by a spiral spring 5 with a stationary crank-arm Z2 on the pivot of the bell-crank lever b, as

shown in Figs. 16, 16 and 16 When aconsiderable quantity of solder in the solderreceptacle is used up, the level of the liquid falls and the float B is lowered, and the collar Z9 on the stem of the float engages the upper arm of the bell-crank lever b and lowers the same sufficiently below its horizontal position so that it is acted upon by the helical spring 6 and turned quickly into the position shown in Fig. 16, until it is arrested by the pin 19 A clapper Z9 which is attached to the bell-crank lever Z2 in line with the upper arm of the same, strikes the bell B when the tilting of the bell-crank. lever takes place, and gives thereby the signal to the attendant which indicates that a new supply of solder is required. By the next downward motion of the dipper B a projecting nose 6 on the stem of the same engages the projecting end of the beveled pin b arranged in the socket-shaped arm of the bell-crank lever 12 and moves the same in a downward direction until it clears the pins 17 so that by the action of the spring Z9 another stroke of the clapper on the bell is produced, which is repeated with each downstroke of the dipper-rod B so that the ringing of the bell iskept up until a new supply of solder is placed into the receptacle B The spring-cushioning of the beveled pin Z2 is necessary, so as to provide for the passage of the nose Z7 beyond the pin 12 during the upstroke of the dipper-rod. As long as the supplyof solder is not replenished, the ringing of the bell'takes place intermittently, so that the attendant is warned and his attention drawn to the necessity of a new supply of solder. When new bars of solder are supplied to the receptacle, the level of liquid solder is raised and the float returned to-its normal position. The bell-striking device is then returned into its former position by the attendant. As long as the float B is kept in contact with the shell Z1 at the upper part of the receptacle B, the alarm is not sounded, the normal position of the alarm-bell relatively to the actuating bell-crank lever indicating that there is a sufficient supply of solder in the soldering tank and trough.

During the movement of each can through the soldering-trough, by the action of the carrier-chain, the side seam of the same is submerged in the liquid solder, so that the same coats the inside and outside surfaces of the side seam and enters into every depression formed by the folded edges of the metal, so that the reliable closing of the side seam is obtained. The ends of the soldering-trough B are provided with outwardly-extending beveled lips b which are clearly shown in Figs. 4:, 5, and 12, which prevent the overflow of solder at the ends of the trough, and over which the side seam of the can-body is passed as the same enters into or leaves the solderin g-trough B. The guide-rods d dare slightly thickened above the ingoing and outgoing ends of the trough B, so that the side seam The Wipers for the Surplus Solder.

As soon as the seam of the can-body leaves the lip b of the soldering-trough B it passes between an interior wiper F and an exterior wiper F, of which the former is supported on the water-tube 72 and the latter on the transverse rod F of the yoke-shaped pillar A at the outgoing end of the soldering-tank B, as shown in Figs. 5 and 15,and in detail in Figs. 17 .and 17. The interior wiper F is supported by a collar f 3 on the water-supply tube It and is provided at opposite sides with sockets f 4 for receiving the pivots f by which the side lugs f of the wiper F are applied to the collar f Between the sockets f of the wiper'F and the lugs f are introduced washersf said sockets and washers being grooved at their adjacent edges for attaching the ends of the parallel and slightly-inclined wires r, which wires ends are bent around the grooved sockets and washers and soldered thereto The wires 1' serve to support the water-tube h firmly in position and prevent it from interfering with the free motion of the canbodies in longitudinal direction through the machine. The wiper F is composed of a segmental lower portion, a piece of absorbent non-combustible material f such as asbestos felt, and a fastening-plate j, which is attached by means of screws 1" to the segmental lower portion of the wiper F, as shown in Fig. 17. The inner surface of the side seam of the can-body passes along the lower edge of the wiping-felt, so that any surplus solder is wiped off as the can is moved forward by the carrier-chain, the surplus solder dropping on a transverse drip-plate 0 extending between the supporting-brackets on which the yoke-shaped pillar -A is supported, as shown clearly in Fig. 15. On this slightlyconcaved drip-plate the solderis dropped and hardened by contact with the same, from which it is removed from time to time.

Aslight downward pressure is imparted to the wiper F by means of a spring f at each side of the collar f which is attached to a screw-stud f of the collar f as shown in Fig. 17, so that a slight pressure is exerted by the wiper on the inner surface of the side seam as the can-body passes below the wiper. The supporting-rod F of the exterior wiper F is supported on ears of the pillar A, as shown in Figs. 5 and 15, said wiper being made in the same manner as the interior wiper, but of less width than the same. It is likewise connected by helical springs f with the pillar A, so as to be pressed with a certain pressure against the outer surface of the seam and re- I move the surplus solder from the same, said solder being also dropped 'on the drip-plate a as before described. During the passage of the can-body over the exterior wiper F it is necessary to hold the can in position against the pressure of the same. This is accomplished by means of a stationary abutment F which is shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 15, and which is attached to the lower guide-tube T for the carrier-chain, said abutment pressing by arc-shaped flanges at opposite points on the can, at points approximately vertically above the guide-rails for the cans. This abutment extends for approximately the length of a can-body over the Wipers, so as to produce the reliable action ofthe exterior wiper F during the passage of the'can-body between both wipers F F.

. The Seam Cleaning and Drying Devices.

From the wipers the can-body is moved over the guide-rails until it arrives below the stationary wiper G, which serves to supply water from the water-tube 71, to the interior of the can. This water-supplying wiper G consists of a number of layers g, of felt or other suitable absorbent material, which are perforated so as to be readily placed in position over a sleeve 9, attached to one head 9 of the wiper, said sleeve being placed on the water-tube 71 asshown in Fig. 18. The absorbent layers 9 are supplied with water, through perforations in the watertube 7L2 and sleeve g, so that a sufficient quantity of moisture is supplied to inner surface of the side seam. The absorbent layers g are retained in posit-ion by means of the opposite head g and by three or more pointed pins 9 which pierce the upper and lower ends of the layers, so as to retain them firmly in position and prevent them from shifting. The wiper G is retained firmly in the watertube by means of a shoulder g in the same and a sleeve 9 which presses on the opposite head g and holds it and the layers gin position. In'thelower parts of the layers g is arranged an opening for the passage of an auxiliary shaft, by which motion is transmitted to the rotary drying-brush G, as will be described hereinafter. The water-tube 7L2 is provided adjacent to the wiper G with an interior web g having a central opening, which can be partly or entirely closed by a valve 9 the stem g of which extends longitudinally through the outermost end of the water-tube W, and through a stuffing-box g", by which the escape of water is prevented.

Between the stufiing-box g and the screwthreaded end of the stem 9 is interposed a spiral spring 9 which presses on the stuffing-boX and keeps the packing of the same perfectly tight. \Vhen the valve g is screwed on its seat in the Web 9, no water can pass into the outermost end of the water-tube 71, and to the wiper G. opened by turning the handle 9 at the outer end of the stem 9 water is supplied to the end of the water-tube h and conducted.

through the apertures in the same to the absorbent layers of the cleaning-wiper G, .as shown in Figs. 18 and 18. .is deliveredfrom the can-body into the tank ,G and conducted off through a waste-pipe G arranged in the pillar G of the same, as shown in Figs. 8 and 5. The ends of the guide-rails d are supported by brackets on the tank, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, so that a perfectly rigid position is imparted to the same. After the side seam of the can-body has passed the cleaning-wiper G it is necessary to remove the moisture from the seam and to dry the can. This is accomplished by a rotary drying-brush G, which is supported on the outer end of the water-tube 7L2, and

which is constructed in the same manner as I the wiper G of a number of absorbent layers G which are firmly held between heads 9 as shown in Fig. 13. The heads are supported on a cylinder g, that is. supported eocentrically to the water-tube 7Z2, as shown in Figs. 18 and 18 said cylinder being held in position on the water-tube at one end by the sleeve 9 interposed between the cleaning-wiper G and the eccentric cylinder 9 of the drying-brush, and at the other end by a disk-shaped washer and screw-nut 9 said screw-nut engaging the eXteriorly-threaded outermost end of the water-tube h. The

WVhen the valve g is Any surplus water IIO IIS 

